Clifton A. Poodry, Ph.D.

Dr. Poodry is a Biologist turned scientific administrator with research expertise in developmental genetics. He had a 22-year research and teaching career in cell biology and developmental genetics in Drosophila at the University of California, Santa Cruz, prior to joining the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at the National Institutes of Health. At NIGMS, Poodry serves as director of the Division of Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE), where he oversees the administration of grants designed to increase the number and capabilities of minority biomedical scientists. These grants support a variety of activities, including research training, infrastructure improvement, curriculum enrichment, and laboratory research at minority institutions.

Poodry holds a B.A. in Biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a Ph.D. in Biology from Case Western Reserve University.  Poodry was a member of the Smithsonian Council from 1997-2003. He served as vice-chairperson of the National Research Council Committee on the High School Biology Curriculum in U.S. schools (1988-1990) and was a recipient of a National Science Foundation grant to provide training activities to teachers at American Indian schools (1988-1990). He has been a workshop leader for teacher training activities with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) since 1990.

Poodry is a native of the Tonawanda Seneca Indian Reservation in western New York. He has twice been elected to the Board of Directors of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science. He is a former board member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and a 1995 recipient of its highest award, the Ely S. Parker Award, for lifelong accomplishments in science and contributions to the American Indian community. Poodry received an honorary doctorate of science from The State University of New York at Buffalo in 1999.  Poodry is particularly interested in science education and issues pertaining to American Indian participation in genetics research. He is the author of over 40 scientific papers and chapters. He was for many years a faculty participant and advisory board member for the Headlands Indian Health Careers Program of the University of Oklahoma. Among the many boards he has served on are the boards of directors of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, and on the Advisory Committee on Minority Science Education of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Poodry is also a founding member of Openmind, an association for the achievement of cultural diversity in higher education.